Deep divisions emerge before Israel Palestinian talks

Updated
July 22, 2013 10:01:00

Ahead of planned new talks between Israelis and Palestinians, deep divisions have emerged within each camp. Members of Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet are strongly opposed to the two state solution that he says he'll pursue.

TONY EASTLEY: Ahead of planned new talks between Israelis and Palestinians, deep divisions have emerged within each camp.

Members of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet are strongly opposed to the two state solution that he says he'll pursue.

Negotiators from the two sides are expected in Washington in about a week's time after months of shuttle diplomacy by US secretary of state, John Kerry.

Middle East correspondent Matt Brown reports from Jerusalem.

MATT BROWN: In the settlement of Eli - considered illegal under international law - workers put the final touches on a new shopping centre and talk of renewed negotiation with the Palestinians is dismissed with confidence.

AMIAD COHEN: People like to dream - most of them the Americans, the Europeans, and my brothers in Tel Aviv like to dream. Dreaming is good but your dream has to be connected to reality and unfortunately with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it's not connected to reality.

MATT BROWN: The settlement's chief executive Amiad Cohen says he's happy for Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond to those dreams because he's sure they won't become a reality.

AMIAD COHEN: Benjamin Netanyahu knows exactly why it's wrong to negotiate with the Palestinians. I see, I understand that Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't believe in this negotiation. He knows the facts, he knows the reason why not to negotiate with them; but he has American pressure, European pressure.

MATT BROWN: But you think this will go nowhere?

AMIAD COHEN: I know it will go nowhere; the same thing that happened nowhere in the past 20 years.

MATT BROWN: Amiad Cohen says Palestinians will be to blame for a lack of progress, and Hamas, the Islamist militant group which rules the Gaza Strip - and is opposed to Israel's existence - has already come out to condemn the proposed talks.

However, members of Benjamin Netanyahu's own cabinet are also determined to stand against a two state solution.

Outside the weekly cabinet meeting, Yisrael Katz, the transport minister, a member of Mr Netanyahu's own Likud party, opposed not just the objective of the talks but the confidence-building measure that might go along with them.

(Yisrael Katz speaking Hebrew)

"I'm against a Palestinian state," he said, "and I don't agree with the release of terrorists in the event that that comes up later."

Ze'ev Elkin, the deputy foreign minister, took to his Facebook page to declare: "I remain faithful to the official Likud central committee position that is opposed to a Palestinian state. I have no doubt that the establishment of a Palestinian state as we've unfortunately seen in the past 20 years will certainly lead to the creation of a terrorist state."

Those statements back the declaration last month of deputy defence minister Danny Danon, who told a newspaper, "if there is to be a move to promote a two-state solution, you will see forces blocking it within the party and the government."

Mr Netanyahu says he'd put any deal with the Palestinians to a referendum. On the eve of fresh talks, it's clear that if he did, members of his own government would fight against it.